Thaddeus Young said he has not
given too much thought to the trade rumors that surfaced over the weekend.

The Sixers were listed as a
potential landing spot for Houston forward Omer Asik, an ESPN.com report by
Marc Stein said. The Rockets, according to multiple reports, are trying to move
Asik by Dec. 19, and Stein’s report said Young would be the return in any deal
involving Asik.

“It is what it is. Just taking
it day by day,” Young said, after the Sixers’ morning shootaround Monday. “I’m
not worried about a trade or anything like that. It’s a business. If it
happens, it happens. I just have to live with it, keep moving on it. At the end
of the day, I’m here. I’m ready. I’m focused. I’m ready to go out here and
think about the game tonight.”

“Not hard to keep focused. It’s
basketball. It’s our job. It’s how we make our living. It’s how we make our
money. It’s how we feed our families. At the end of the day, it is what it is
if it happens. There’s nothing I can do about it. I definitely love Philly and
want to continue being here. If they see fit to trade me, hey, my time is up. I
have to move on.”

Young is in his seventh season
with the Sixers, who drafted him 12th overall in 2007. Averaging 15.8 points
and 6.8 rebounds, the 6-8, 230-pound forward is making $8.6 million this
season. He’s slotted to earn $9.1 million in 2014-15, with a player option of
$9.7 million for the 2015-16 season.

Figuring out the financials
would be key in any deal for Asik, the 27-year-old Turkish center. The 7-foot,
255-pounder, averaging 4.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, is earning $5.2 million
this season, but his three-year deal is backloaded for its final season. He is
due to make $14.9 million in 2014-15. While the Sixers would be able to absorb
that cap hit, taking on Asik would significantly limit their involvement in the
offseason free-agent market.

Asik was acquired by the Rockets from Chicago last season in a deal facilitated by Sam Hinkie, the Sixers GM who, at the time, was a Houston executive. Asik, a DNP for the
Rockets since the trade talks began swirling, has not played since Dec. 2,
missing three straight games.

For Young, he said staying
focused amid trade talks comes with maturity.

“It comes with the growth. I’m
in my seventh season. There’s been trade talks about me being traded the last
couple years,” Young said. “You just have to keep playing. You can’t focus on
that. You keep playing, keep doing what got you here and keep doing what made
you a name in this league – and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

First of all get's your facts straight. Having Asik would not keep us from having cap space for max talent. Young isn't a expiring Asik making more, but his cap hold won't be what he will actually make. Even if it was we still have enough for a max free agent. I hate when people write articles who don't understand cap.